A study of the three acts of the mind: understanding, judgment, and reasoning. Both inductive and deductive reasoning are studied and practiced. The traditional syllogism and the basics of symbolic logic are covered. Course includes a study of informal fallacies.

PHL 3650 Philosophy of Knowledge

3 cr.

An examination of the philosophical problems connected with the questions of how human beings know what they know, and how they know whether that knowledge is true or not. (Recommended for students interested in psychology.)

RST 4080/4090/4110 Option (3 cr. to be chosen)

RST 4080 Moral Issues in Business (PHL/RST*)

3 cr.

Review traditional philosophical theories of ethics; examine principles of Christian morality, particularly those dealing with ethics from a Catholic perspective; investigate areas in the American marketplace that raise ethical concerns (e.g., injustices in the American economic system).

RST 4090 Environmental Ethics (PHL/RST*)

3 cr.

A study of moral/ethical dilemmas of equitable and responsible stewardship over creation. Judeo-Christian/Franciscan, non-western perspectives of contemporary issues of war and peace, abundance and want, stewardship and domination, excess and poverty, etc., are explored.

RST 4110 Medical Ethics (PHL/RST*)

3 cr.

An academic study of contemporary moral issues relative to modern health care, life science, and future issues in the light of Judeo-Christian convictions. Prerequisite: junior or senior status.

PHL 4230 Metaphysics (PHL*/RST)

3 cr.

The study, from a philosophical perspective, of the core issues of reality: the fundamental constituents of existence; the nature of God, truth, goodness, and the beautiful; with discussion of some of the solutions to metaphysical problems that have been proposed throughout the course of human history. Prerequisite: any other philosophy course or permission of the instructor.

Electives (6 cr. to be chosen)

PHL 1050 Philosophy of Person

3 cr.

An analysis of human experience and nature found through examination of the questions about the nature of reality, knowledge, values, freedom, and destiny. (Recommended for students interested in the human sciences and psychology.)

PHL 1550 Introduction to Ethics (PHL*/RST)

3 cr.

Examination of the field of ethics and tools for ethical decision-making. Overview and analysis of significant philosophical approaches to ethical questions, as a basis for study of contemporary ethical issues.

PHL 2850 Philosophy of Law (PHL*/RST)

3 cr.

A critical survey of the three basic questions of the philosophy of law, via ontology (What is law?), epistemology (How do we know about law?), and ethics (Why should we obey the law?). Entails a study of what makes a legal system legitimate, the difference between (religious) morality and the law, legal theory, penology, and police ethics.

RST 2990 Principles of Catholic Social Doctrine (PHL/RST*)

3 cr.

An examination of the major principles of Catholic social doctrine and Franciscan values through a study of papal and episcopal documents and the witness of St. Francis of Assisi. Focus on the ways in which Catholic social justice teachings are applied and shape law, culture, politics, and social policy.

PHL 3150 Existentialism

3 cr.

A study of the major themes of the philosophical approach of existential phenomenology which forms the intellectual foundation of much of modern thought and literature. (Recommended for students interested in art, music, and literary criticism.)

PHL 3310 Philosophy of Science

3 cr.

A study of the philosophy of science, reflecting on the philosophical presuppositions of modern scientific inquiry and a philosophical consideration of the nature of the world in which we live. (Recommended for students interested in science and math.)

PHL 3750 Special Topics in Philosophy

1 cr. (Not To Exceed 4 cr.)

Focus on specialized topics of philosophical inquiry. Topics vary; may be repeated for credit with a new topic. PHL 1010 may be a prerequisite in some cases.

RST 4080 Moral Issues in Business (PHL/RST*)

3 cr.

Review traditional philosophical theories of ethics; examine principles of Christian morality, particularly those dealing with ethics from a Catholic perspective; investigate areas in the American marketplace that raise ethical concerns (e.g., injustices in the American economic system).

RST 4090 Environmental Ethics (PHL/RST*)

3 cr.

A study of moral/ethical dilemmas of equitable and responsible stewardship over creation. Judeo-Christian/Franciscan, non-western perspectives of contemporary issues of war and peace, abundance and want, stewardship and domination, excess and poverty, etc., are explored.

RST 4110 Medical Ethics (PHL/RST*)

3 cr.

An academic study of contemporary moral issues relative to modern health care, life science, and future issues in the light of Judeo-Christian convictions. Prerequisite: junior or senior status.

PHL 4150 Philosophy of Religion (PHL*/RST)

3 cr.

Study of the relationship between philosophy and religion by highlighting philosophy’s role in the inquiry into the validity, value, and meaning of man’s concern with the existence and nature of the Ultimate Reality: God. (Recommended for students interested in the liberal arts.)